PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALLISON POTTER
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PEOPLE | CULTURE | HAPPENINGS | TRENDS
beachbites
Functional Art
Clay Guild
BY VICTORIA CARLBORG
Designing pieces inspired by the mountains, architecture and even rust
running down a weathered bridge, for Pennsylvania native Brian Evans,
molding an idea from raw clay to finished product is grounding.
The artist and his wife have made Wilmington their home since 1995.
Evans has an art degree, and met well-known Wilmington potter Hiroshi Sueyoshi
in 1997, then began to study with him.
“Even though he doesn’t teach me anymore, I still learn from him,” Evans says.
Sueyoshi is the artist-in-residence and ceramics instructor at Cameron Art Museum’s
Pancoe Art Education Center and also serves as the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild’s presi-dent.
Evans serves as vice-president.
The 40-something Evans recently left his day job to focus on his pottery.
Using a wheel and hand-building techniques, he describes his work as modern-
Brian Evans throws a bowl for the Coastal Carolina
Clay Guild’s Holiday Show and Sale, Nov. 2 and 3
contemporary.
at the Hannah Block Historic USO Building and
“I don’t consider myself a mass-production potter, but I do work on dinnerware and
Community Arts Center. His work includes hand-built
such. I like the idea of keeping art functional and a vessel, for example, is a bridge from
sculptural pieces and functional pieces such
functional to sculptural,” Evans says. “That feeling touches people on multiple levels
as wheel-thrown bowls.
because it’s a work of art that they can actually use and had a human touch involved.”
The work of Evans and Sueyoshi will be on display with other members from all over Southeastern North Carolina at the seventh annual
Coastal Carolina Clay Guild’s Holiday Show and Sale Nov. 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hannah Block Historic USO Building and
Community Arts Center, located at 120 South Second Street in downtown Wilmington.
One aspect of the annual show and sale that Evans is particularly proud of is joining his fellow artists in donating a piece to the event’s raffle.
Raffle proceeds benefit Empty Bowls and other community projects. The public is also invited to an opening artists’ reception Friday, Nov. 1
from 5-7 p.m. Music will be provided by members of the Tallis Chamber Orchestra of Wilmington.
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